 |
| The Troops Arrive - "Rocky Statue" |
Due to rotten weather conditions (rain and lightning), I booked a second night at Extended Stay America. After three weeks, it was a reasonable time to rest up for the final leg of the trip. Knowing that I wouldn’t be cycling, I decided to leave the Cannondale in my room and head into downtown Philadelphia.
 |
| Drying Out - Extended Stay America |
I had never used Uber before. Today was the perfect day to see what it was like. The phone application connected me with a driver named Melvin who, in less than five minutes, arrived in front of the hotel. I rode shotgun while we talked about my bike trip and his four years serving as a Marine, among other things. Uber is very convenient, and I plan to use it again in the very near future.
 |
| Holding On - Philadelphia Museum of Art |
 |
| Popular Photo ("Wild" Exhibit) - Philadelphia Museum of Art |
 |
| Fountain - Philadelphia Museum of Art |
Melvin dropped me off at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the place I had selected to visit. Last summer, Christina and I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy the Prado Museum while staying in Madrid, Spain. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see one of the top-ten museums in the United States. Art museums, in particular, prompt diverse thought.
 |
| Medieval - Philadelphia Museum of Art |
 |
| The Labor of War - Philadelphia Museum of Art |
 |
| Pose of Power - Philadelphia Museum of Art |
I arrived at just after one o’clock in the afternoon, not knowing how long I would stay. The special summer exhibit, titled “Wild”, featured nature photographer Michael Nichols. I was familiar with some of his work for National Geographic. The focus of “Nick’s” photography hinges on environmental awareness. Clear stories are told through his images. By six thirty in the evening, I had only scratched the surface of what the museum had to offer. I hope to come back someday.
 |
| Great Stair Balcony - Philadelphia Museum of Art |
 |
| Franklin Original - Philadelphia Museum of Art |
 |
| Jazz in the Evening Hours - Philadelphia Museum of Art |
The sprawling staircase in front of the museum will be forever remembered in the “Rocky” training montage. Off to the right, there is a statue of the fictional man himself, arms raised. People were flocking to the photo opportunity. I couldn’t resist myself. This statue was more popular than the masterpieces in the museum itself; go figure.
I climbed the stairs for a good vantage point, then, with the aid of my phone, headed off in the direction of the train station which was less than two miles away.
 |
| Overcast Entrance - Philadelphia Museum of Art |
The only unfortunate happening on the walk was getting verbally attacked by a young man with, I assume, mental issues. I didn’t respond to him whatsoever and kept walking, thinking that a verbal response could escalate the already tense encounter. I hope that he’s okay.
Before leaving the downtown, I asked a local man about a good place to find a Philly sandwich. He pointed me in the direction of Wawa, which happened to be right across the street from the “Suburban” train station. I ordered a classic Philly cheesesteak sandwich to go and made my way down to the train station.
 |
| Awaiting Arrival |
 |
| The Matrix |
 |
| Train View (Counting the Stops) |
The man at the ticket counter was extremely patient with me while I inquired about the correct train and bus to take back to my hotel. I was later able to confirm the connections on my phone. The train and bus rides worked out well, and I was back at Extended Stay in about an hour, capping a whirlwind day in the City of Brotherly Love.
No comments:
Post a Comment